I’m guessing you’re here as you might have woodworm in your floorboards? Don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got our 7 top facts for understanding woodworm; from spotting signs like active woodworm holes to how it should be treated.
1. Woodworm is not a worm, it’s a larvae!
Woodworm isn’t a worm at all, in fact it is the generic term given to wood-boring beetles and their larvae, which can cause damage to structural timbers. The female beetle lays her eggs inside timber crevices/ cracks for them to grow. Then once the eggs hatch the emerging woodworm larvae create holes in the timber as they eat their way through. This can cause severe damage to the infested timber as the woodworm can spread rapidly throughout floorboards and other joinery.
2. Is woodworm a problem?
So, is woodworm a serious problem in your house? Yes, it can cause serious problems by damaging structural timbers throughout your property including floorboards and roof beams. If left untreated, woodworm can also cause damage to your furniture.
You can treat woodworm in furniture yourself using DIY methods available online but it is advisable to seek professional advice as incorrect application or wrong handling could lead to harmful consequences. Prokil surveyors are experts at identifying the beetle type and recommend which form of treatment would be best suited to eradicating woodworm.
If you’re unsure on how to deal with woodworm, we’re here to help. Don’t hesitate to contact us 0800 048 9488.
3. Signs of woodworm
You’ll usually notice the presence of active woodworm once they exit the wood in which they are living in, called ‘exit holes’. These are usually small round or oval holes about 2-4mm in size.
Other things to look out for include “frass”, which is the bore dust surrounding the hole, which often shows that woodworm are active within a piece of timber and tunnelling which runs along the grain of the timber.
If this sounds familiar to you, give us a call on 0800 048 9488, and one of our Prokil woodworm surveyors can identify the infestation problem and provide the best treatment solution.
4. Woodworm life cycle;
It is important to understand the life cycle of woodworm. Unlike many beetles, woodworm can live inside timbers for a number of years. Once the woodworm larvae pupate into adult beetles they can fly and therefore infest other surrounding timbers.This makes the correct identification and treatment of woodworm in furniture or woodworm in floorboards more difficult.
There are four stages to a woodworm’s lifecycle:
1) A female woodworm will start the process by laying her eggs directly into the timber through any cracks/crevices.
2) After a few weeks, the eggs hatch into larvae, which immediately begin to burrow down into the wood. It is at this point woodworm damage to your timber starts!
3) Woodworm larvae can eat constantly for up to 5 years, moving up and down the timber eating everything in its path.
4) The transformation into an adult beetle. They then eat their way out of the wood they’re in.
Some species of beetle continue to tunnel through the wood but most will look to leave the timber to find a mate and also look to infest new timbers, “invading” your home quickly.
5. Spotted Woodworm? Then act fast!
Woodworm can strike at any time, so it’s a good idea to have your roof timbers in your home or garage checked and treated in advance to prevent woodworm from infesting them.
If you’ve already spotted some signs of woodworm, then treating it in a timely manner is the next best thing to prevent the infestation from spreading and causing more damage to other timbers.
Prokil surveyors are experts at identifying active woodworm holes and will provide you with the best treatment.
6. Woodworm season
Although woodworm infestations are active throughout the year, the months between April and September are commonly referred to as ‘woodworm season’. It is at this time when they are most likely to emerge from floorboards and roof timbers which means a higher chance of spotting any woodworm exit holes.
If you spot any holes in your timbers, but cannot tell whether the infestation is active or not, then woodworm season may be the best time of year for keeping an eye on the matter.
Still unsure on how to treat woodworm? Prokil can provide the best woodworm treatment for furniture, roof timbers and timber floorboards that will kill woodworm in your home for good.
7. DIY Treatment or Prokil Woodworm Experts?
You may be able to treat woodworm infestation on your own by applying products such as bleach, vinegar or even paint over the active woodworm holes. However, these aren’t proven methods and could lead to further damage being caused.
Prokil does not recommend treating woodworm yourself with chemicals, whether it is in your furniture or floorboards as they can be very dangerous and harmful and need to be used with expert care.
For your peace of mind, Prokil’s experts hold all the relevant health and safety qualifications for your complete confidence in dealing with the infestation safely.
For more information about our tailored treatments and service, please contact our timber preservation specialists on 0800 048 9488. You can also visit our website page on 3 ways to control and remove woodworm.
Want to learn more about woodworm ? If so, click on the information links below:
